The Los Angeles Kings have a 3-1 series lead over the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference finals

Return of Willie Mitchell one reason Kings have reversed their fortunes against Chicago this postseason

Increased depth down the middle is behind Kings' success this postseason

Willie Mitchell couldn't go on the road to be around his friends and hockey-playing colleagues. Nor could he feel comfortable going out to dinner when a playoff game was going on against St. Louis, San Jose or Chicago.

The prototypical stay-at-home defenseman had to … well, stay home last year.

"I was in L.A. But it was tough because the team didn't want me around the rink. I get that, I get that part of the program," said Mitchell, who missed all of last season because of knee issues.

CaptionKris Versteeg, Willie Mitchell, Jonathan Toews

Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell, center, battles Chicago Blackhawks teammates Kris Versteeg, left, and Jonathan Toews along the boards during the second period of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center.

Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell, center, battles Chicago Blackhawks teammates Kris Versteeg, left, and Jonathan Toews along the boards during the second period of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw, right, redirects a shot in front of Kings goalie Jonathan Quick during the second period of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw, right, redirects a shot in front of Kings goalie Jonathan Quick during the second period of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The puck slides into the net as Kings forward Marian Gaborik falls in front of Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford during the first period of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center.

The puck slides into the net as Kings forward Marian Gaborik falls in front of Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford during the first period of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa, left, collides with goalie Jonathan Quick in front of defenseman Drew Doughty during the first period of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa, left, collides with goalie Jonathan Quick in front of defenseman Drew Doughty during the first period of Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Kings captain Dustin Brown, left, celebrates in front of Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook after scoring a first-period power-play goal in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Staples Center.

"Because I couldn't help the team out. It was where the guys would look over their shoulder, 'Oh, if we had him,' instead of focusing on what we've got and moving forward.

"You want to watch and then you don't want to watch the games. It was eating me up inside. It's not like you can go out for dinner either because if someone sees you out for dinner, it's like, 'What's this guy doing out for dinner? His team is playing.'"

Mitchell was talking on the phone from the Kings' charter a few minutes before it departed Los Angeles for Chicago on Tuesday morning. Game 5 of the Western Conference finals is Wednesday at the United Center, with the Kings holding a 3-1 series lead against the Blackhawks.

His return is one of many reasons the Kings have reversed this series, so far, from the one in 2013. They had trailed the Blackhawks 3-1 and then lost Game 5 in double overtime, and Chicago went on to win the Stanley Cup.

This time, there is the looming factor of a healthy Drew Doughty, who was playing defense on a bad ankle last year. The Kings have increased depth down the middle, sparked by the playoff scoring leader, center Anze Kopitar, and the Blackhawks don't have many answers in that department after captain Jonathan Toews.

"[Kings Coach] Darryl Sutter is definitely right — you get nothing for three [wins]. It'll hopefully be a short road, if we do it right," Mitchell said. "But there's a lot of work. They're a really good team, obviously a very good offensive team.

"That's my job to play against the top two lines and slow them down as much as possible with Slava [Voynov] this series. We've done a pretty good job so far. But they're a team that can make you look silly in a hurry."

For their part, the Blackhawks overcame a 3-1 deficit in the second round last season against the Detroit Red Wings, so they know it is possible. They also will have the advantage of being at home Wednesday, playing in the league's loudest arena, where they had not lost this postseason until Game 2 against the Kings.

"We were in the same position last year," Chicago forward Patrick Kane said Monday after Game 4. "You can look back at that and say, 'We came out and were successful, so why can't we do it again?'

"It's tough with the position we're in right now, but at the same time we still feel good about our team in here and we all know we've done it before. You have to have that confidence of trying to win the next game and see what happens."

After Game 4, Sutter said the Kings needed to be better five on five. The Kings have been fairly disciplined during this series, and when they have taken penalties they've killed them off, giving up only two power-play goals in 13 opportunities.

"When they [the Blackhawks] are taking penalties, we need to capitalize on them," Doughty said. "Our PK [penalty killing] was really good again. Special teams was huge. I think we need to clean up five on five."

The early penalty kills in Game 4 set the tone for the Kings.

"It shows you how big special teams are this time of year," Mitchell said. "A couple of big kills takes the wind out of their sails. You come back and have a power play that executes and all of a sudden the wind is at your back, instead of blowing stiff at your face."

The recent story of Chicago's Jackie Robinson West Little League team, their U.S. title taken away because some of their players lived outside the district they represented, struck a nerve with Phil Hart.